Red Cross Deploying Local Volunteers to Provide Support for Hurricane Irene Disaster Relief. Learn How You Can Help! 

CINCINNATI/DAYTON, OH August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene is expected to make its first U.S. landfall as early as Friday night before moving up the Northeast coast.  In response to this storm, the Cincinnati-Dayton Region of the American Red Cross has deployed a total of 15 volunteers.  4 of which deployed this past Wednesday in Emergency Response Vehicle’s (ERV) to Garner, NC (2 from the Cincinnati Area Chapter and 2 from Dayton Area Chapter). The remaining 11 volunteers are from the Cincinnati Area Chapter and are scheduled to deploy throughout the rest of today going in to tomorrow morning.   These volunteers will help the Red Cross respond on the scene of emergencies and provide for the urgent needs of disaster victims. Including providing shelter, feeding victims and emergency workers, providing mental health and emotional support services, providing basic first aid and health services, distributing clean-up supplies and comfort items.

“The American Red Cross wants to ensure that everyone affected has there emergency needs met,” said Regional Emergency Services Director, Fran O’Shaughnessy.  “We are mobilizing to the East Coast, to make sure that anyone and everyone who could possibly be affected by the storm will have food, shelter, comfort and hope.  We will continue to monitor the storm and deploy as the situation dictates.”

Hurricane Irene is predicted to be the largest storm to hit the East Coast in more than 70 years and poses a major threat to millions of Americans in the area.  American Red Cross Chapters have been preparing for Irene by opening shelters in North Carolina. Dozens of additional shelters are being prepared along the East Coast in areas expected to be affected by this powerful storm.  In addition, about 200 mobile feeding vehicles are heading towards the East Coast to help people who will be in the path of the storm.

American Red Cross disaster response depends on donations from the American public.  Financial contributions to American Red Cross Disaster Relief will allow us to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

The best way for people in the local community to help those affected by Hurricane Irene is to make a donation. If someone would like to support disaster relief efforts, they can make a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.cincinnatiredcross.org, calling 513-579-3061 or 1-800-255-7070, texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or sending a check or money order to American Red Cross, PO Box 5216, Cincinnati, OH  45201-5216.

For more information on the Wayne/Union County Chapter and how you can support your local Red Cross, visit www.wayneunionredcross.org.